6 responses to “Tabby Thursday”

1. 

   Kathy

   January 29, 2026 at 10:18 am

   Re, Snoozefest boycott, I see it as extremely unlikely.

   World Cups have been held in worse places, politically speaking, than even El Taco’s America. Namely Mad Vlad’s Russia in 2018, and military Junta Argentina in 1978. No one boycotted either.

   I’m sure many fans who’d love to travel to see live games won’t, but more due to the cost of travel and game tickets. Tourism to the US has fallen sharply, but it should see an uptick for the Snoozefest.

   There was an idea floating around, too, of removing the US as host. This, too, is not possible. Mexico hosted the 86 cup because Colombia, which had been selected as host, decided in 1982 the country could not afford a 24 team tournament (when it was picked in 1974, the tournament consisted of 16 teams). Mexico had plenty of infrastructure left over from the 1970 Snoozefest, and even so a few new stadiums were built. But this was with 3 years lead time.

   So, another fascist country hosts a global sporting competition.

   Related to this, ICE agents will be among the security detail of US officials who will attend the Winter Olympics opening festivities in Italy. Many Italians have objected to this.

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2. 

   Beth

   January 29, 2026 at 10:49 am

   @Kathy:

   I just read about ICE in Italy and man does that sound like an exceptionally stupid idea. Lol, are they gonna wear their little masks?

   Anyway, it looks like between now and the World Cup we have (sporting wise) the Winter Olympics, the Super Bowl, and baseball opening day (at least). We will also be in the middle of the Primaries. I suspect we will know how fucked the World Cup will be well before June.

   Another thought occurs to me, do the RWNJs still think that soccer is gay/unmanly/boring/unamerican? My gut tells me that soccer is way more popular with normies, enough that people would be pissed if it gets screwed up. I could see the RWNJs assuming that everyone shared their disdain and screwing up.

   World Cups have been held in worse places, politically speaking, than even El Taco’s America. Namely Mad Vlad’s Russia in 2018, and military Junta Argentina in 1978. No one boycotted either.

   I’ll admit not knowing much about Argentina’s Junta, other than it was bad. That being said, I suspect both the Argentinians in the 70s and Putin now both crave respectability and are willing to accept reflected glory. Pulling off a World Cup is a big deal, but whoever’s leading the place won’t get any direct adoration because of it. But there’s still a ton of reflected glory and prestige. “Look how powerful and good I am, I hosted the World Cup and it went great.”

   Trump, on the other hand, won’t accept reflected glory (and thinks sports/exercise is bad for you). What does he care if it blows up? He can just blame Mexico and Canada and that’s probably “better” for him. The rest of those loons don’t give a shit either. Just gives them a bigger stage to force people to watch them shit their pants and smear it on the walls.

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3. 

   Kathy

   January 29, 2026 at 11:09 am

   @Beth:

   I don’t suppose ICE agents in Italy will wear masks, or round up immigrants at the various consulates in Milan, either. What’s troubling is there is an established security force for high officials and dignitaries travelling abroad, and it’s not ICE. It’s also largely not political.

   I wouldn’t be surprised if they rough up locals and visitors who heckle or protest couch boy Vance.

   I know little of the Junta period in Argentina. the salient fact is they went after their own citizens on purpose and en masse. Pretty much they massacred large numbers of political opponents and dissidents. Not too different from Pinochet’s Chile.

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4. 

   Jay L. Gischer

   January 29, 2026 at 1:42 pm

   How on earth are my tax dollars allocated to send ICE agents overseas? How is that within their mandate? What immigration or customs enforcement issue are they addressing?

   These guys deserve to have their money taken away. All of it. Zero them out, send them all home, start over.

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5. 

   Jay L. Gischer

   January 29, 2026 at 1:52 pm

   Here is my most wild-eyed speculative take on sending ICE to the Olympics in Italy. They are sending Ross and anybody that might be associated with him and subject to questioning to put them out of reach of law enforcement here in the US. They are also sending the CBP agents involved in the murder of Alex Pretti as well, after giving them bureaucratic appointments to ICE, for the same reason.

   This is something I consider wild-eyed speculation. I have no facts that support it. I can’t disprove it though, and it makes as much sense as any other explanation for why ICE needs to go to the Olympics.

   Oh wait. I bet I know. It’s a special reward for those ICE agents who have “done the most” in the last year.

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6. 

   Sleeping Dog

   January 29, 2026 at 3:51 pm

   @Jay L. Gischer:

   Of course, if there are secret indictments in front of the ICC…

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